Pre-war Iraq, 2002

Scott J. Ferrell / Congressional Quarterly / Getty

As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, Biden voted in favor of authorizing the use of force against Iraq by George W. Bush in October 2002 but called a unilateral strike the "single worst option" for removing Saddam Hussein from power. Biden held early and extensive hearings on the difficulties America would face in post-War Iraq that helped expose administration infighting over who would control rebuilding in the country.